Mao Zedong
1893–1976 · Chinese (Shaoshan, Hunan / Beijing) · Communist China, Cold War
Known for: Founded the People's Republic of China—the Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution killed tens of millions
Mao led the Chinese Communist Party to victory in the civil war and founded the People's Republic of China in 1949. He was a revolutionary genius, guerrilla warfare theorist, and charismatic leader who unified China after a century of chaos.
His Great Leap Forward (1958-1962) caused the worst famine in human history (15-55 million dead). The Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) destroyed China's cultural heritage and killed an estimated 1-2 million people. He is simultaneously the founder of modern China and its greatest catastrophe.
Browse all 1,000 figures by category
Enable JavaScript to view the full "if they lived today" Q&A and personality profile.